Many of those names and ages were read by Pastor Joe Matoush, of Faith Lutheran Church in Twentynine Palms, who helped organize the event.

Before he began reading the names, he reminded those in attendance of a peace vigil which had been held in front of City Hall before the war began, during which participants sought "options other than violence."

He said the candlelight vigil was being held not to protest the war but to help people be more aware of the war's cost in human lives.

"You know some of these young men," he said.

War, he said, is often seen as a distant thing which doesn't touch our lives.